Container handling machine



Jan. 6, 1942. I J. F. PRICE 2,268,897

CONTAINER HANDLING MACHINE I Original Filed Nov. 23, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet1 L3 IIVVENTOR:

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ATTORNEY5 Jan. 6, 1942. J. .F. PRICE CONTAINER HANDLING MACHINE OriginalFile d Nov. 23, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 6 m n Ww n I 1 A Jan. 6, 1942. J.F-. PRICE I 2,268,897

CONTAINER HANDLING MACHINE I Original Filed'Nov. 25, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet3 ATTORNEYS.

Patented Jan. 6, 1942 CONTAINER HANDLING MACHINE John F. Price, Fulton,N.

Falls Corporation, Fulton,

of New York Y., assignor to Oswego N. Y a corporation Substituted forabandoned application Serial No. 242,036, November 23, 193.8. Thisapplication October 9, 1939, Serial No-. ,298,623 1 11 Claims.

This invention relates to a device or a machine for receiving taperedbottles or containers in a commingled state, and automatically arrangingthe bottles in a predetermined position.

At the present time, bottles or containers formed of paper are beingused extensively for the retail of milk and other beverages. One form ofpaper bottle used extensively is of circular contour and tapers inwardlyfrom the bottom to the top of the bottle. These bottles are shipped tothe dairies in cartons or boxes which contain one hundred or morebottles.

In the bottling process, the bottles are transferred to and from thebottle filling machine by a conveyor. The conveyor and machine aresynchronized and function to automatically fill and cap the bottles. Itis therefore essential that the bottles be initially placed on theconveyor in upright or filling position. When paper bottles are used,this necessitates the operator opening the carton and removing thebottles therefrom manually and placing them on the conveyor in uprightposition. At the present time, the bottle filling apparatus operates atcomparatively high speed, and accordingly the entire attention of one ormore operators is required in removing the paper bottles from thecartons and placing them on the conveyor.

The object of the present invention is a machine into which the bottlesmay be quickly and conveniently dumped or discharged from the cartons,and which functions automatically, without further attention from theoperator, to select the bottles from the commingled mass and deliverthem to the conveyor in upright position ready to be filled by thefilling machine. The invention has as a further object a machine of thetype referred to which is of particularly economical construction andoccupies a minimum amount of floor space and which functions efiicientlyto arrange the bottles in filling position.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations andconstructions hereinafter set forth and claimed. 7

This application is a substitute for my prior application Serial Number242,036, filed November 23, 1938, which inadvertently became abandoned.In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanyingdrawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in allthe views.

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a machine embodying my invention.

; Figure 2 is a viewtaken substantially on line 2-2, Figure 1.,

Figure 3 isa view 33, Figure 1. .q

Figure 4 is a fragmentary, sectional view of the overload switchmechanism.

The machine consists generally of a suitable frame in which two pairs ofcircular members, such as pulleys, are journalled on horizontally takenon substantially. line extendingaxes. The pulleys of each pair are aryrangedcoaxially in spaced apart relationship, and the axes of the pairsextend in parallel spaced apart relationship. An endless belt is trainedover corresponding pulleys of each pair which are arranged in alinement,whereby thebelts travel in spaced apart parallel relationship. The axialspacing between the pulleys and the spacing between-the belts is such asto permit the smaller ends of the containers to pass between theconfronting edges of, the belts, and the larger ends of the containersto be engaged thereby, whereby the containers as they are dischargedbetween the belts on the lower -.run thereof are conveyed with theirsmaller ends extending downwardly, and;as the lower runs of the beltspass over the second pair of pulleys the containers are shifted toupright position, at which time they are transferred from the belts to acontainer receivin member in the nature of a'rotatable turn-table.

I As here shown, the major portion of the frame is formed of squaretubing consisting'of four upright corner posts Ill. provided at thebottom with conventional leveling devices I I.

The frame further includes a pair of lower rails I2 extendingtransversely of the machine and a plurality of lengthwise extendinglower rails I3, and a pair of top rails I4 extending parallel with thelower rails I3.

I5, I6 designate a pair of circular or annular members or pulleys formedwith radially extending flanges .I'I which are arranged on rollers I8,there being three of such rollers for each circular member which form ameans by which the circular members are rotatably journalled in theframe, and the rollers I8 are so positionedthat the members I5, II; arearranged coaxially and in spaced apart relationship. A second pair ofcircular members 20 are secured on a shaft 2I journalled in'the frame,which extends parallel to the axis of the members I5, I6, and to oneside thereof. L

. The members I5, I6 are arranged in alinement with the members 20respectively, and an endless belt 22 is trained. over each of themembers or pulleys I5, I 5,;and over the corresponding member.

20. That is, the members I 5, l6 and constitute pulleys over which thebelts 22 are trained, the arrangement being such that the lower run ofthe belts inclines upwardly from the members I5, 16, and is trained overidler pulleys 23 and thence over the members 20. The upper run of thebelts inclines downwardly from the members 20 to the members l5, I6.

The spacing between the annular members l5, l5, and accordingly thebelts, is such as to permit the smaller ends of the containers C to passbetween the belts, and the larger ends to be engaged by the belts.

The containers are shipped in cartons which are opened at one side andplaced on a receiving hopper 25, as indicated by dotted outline 26,Figure 2. The hopper 25 is provided with an inclined bottom 21 to effectdischarge of the containers into a drum 28 rotatably mounted in theframe on rollers 30 similar to the rollers [8. The drum 28 is ofsubstantially the same diameter as the members l5, l6, and is arrangedcoaxial therewith and in proximity to the member l5. The circular memberI5 is of annular formation and accordingly, the containers are permittedto pass through the drum 28 and member I5, whereupon the smaller ends ofthe containers pass between the belts 22, as indicated in Figure 3.

In operation, the members I 5, I6 are rotated in one direction andpreferably the drum 28 rotated in the opposite direction to effect atumbling action of the containers in the commingled state and thusserving to agitate the containers until the small end of each one passesbetween the belts 22.

A motor 3| is employed to effect rotation of the shaft 2| andaccordingly members 20. A pinion 32 is secured to the motor shaft andmeshes with a spur gear 33 secured to the shaft 2!. The motor shaft isalso provided with a sprocket 34 which is operatively connected with asprocket secured to a jack shaft 35 by chain 36 arranged adjacent theperiphery of the members l5, 16. A second sprocket 31 is secured to theshaft '35 and is operatively connected to a sprocket 38 loosely mountedupon the shaft 2| by a chain 39. The sprocket 38 has associated with ita pulley 4G, and a belt 4| is trained over the pulley 40 and the drum28. With this arrangement, the members l5, l6 and 20 are rotated in acounterclockwise direction, Figure 2. The drum 28 is rotated in aclockwise direction. A cylindrical member 42 is mounted upon the shaft35 and arranged intermediate the members l5, l6. This cylindrical memberis also operated in a clockwise direction and functions to dislodge anycontainers that may become jammed between the members l5, l6, and returnthem to the mass of containers being agitated within the drum and themembers l5, [6. provided with a disk 43 to prevent the containers frommoving endwise through the member [6.

It will be observed from the description of the apparatus thus far thatthe containers are conveyed in inverted position between the members l5,It by the belts 22. That is, the smaller ends of the containers dependbetween the belts '22, and the larger ends of the containers are engagedby the belts. In this position, the containers are conveyed about theperiphery of the members 20, and the machine is provided with meansoperable to transfer the containers from the belts 22 to a containerreceiving member. This means constitutes a plate or, as here shown, apair of plates 45 supported by a cross piece 45 The member l6 is of theframe. The outer ends of the plates 45 are arranged in juxtaposition tothe upper run of the belts 22 as they leave the pulleys 20 and areformed with reduced portions 41 extending below the belts on the innersides of the members 20. The plates 45 incline upwardly and rearwardly,see Figure 2, and accordingly function to effect transfer of thecontainers from the belts 22'. That is, the bottom of the containersengage the plates 45 and as they move up the inclined surface thereof,they are transferred from between the belts. The plates 45 may extendrearwardly to form a container receiving table or support. However, Iprefer to deliver the containers to a movable support or table.

As here. shown, the containers pass from the plates 45 to a table 55which is mounted on the upper end of a shaft 5! journalled on a verticalaxis in the bearings 52 carried by the frame. The shaft 5| is rotated bya motor 53 through suitable gearing 54. The table 56 extendshorizontally above the upper run of the belts 22 with its peripheryadjoining the inner ends of the plates 45, whereby the containers aredischarged onto the table from said plates. One purpose of the table isto provide for the accumulation of containers discharged thereon in theupright position. It is intended that this machine shall be arranged todischarge the containers on the conveyor running to the bottle fillingmachine. Accordingly, there may be times when this machine willdischarge containers at a rate exceeding the operation of the conveyor,in which case the table 50'provides for the accumulation of containerswithout stopping the machine.

The table 50 is encircled by a guard rail 56 which is formed with aninlet opening adjacent the plates 45, and with substantially radiallyextending guides 51 extending parallel to the plates 45, and the guardrail is also interrupted to form a discharge opening 58, the dischargeopening in this instance being arranged substantially 270 from the inletopening. The table 50 is rotated continuously by the separate motor 53in a counterclockwise direction Figure -1, whereby the containersassembled on the table are moved toward the discharge opening 58 injuxtaposition to which the conveyor of the bottle filling machine isarranged. In order to guide the containersfthrough the discharge opening58, a partition 59 extends inwardly from the guard rail 56 adjacent thedischarge opening toward the center of the table. The outer end of thepartition 59 is p'ivo'tally mounted on the guard rail at 60, and theinner end of the partition is provided with an arm Eli having anelongated slot to receive the upper end of the shaft 5| on. which ismounted a star wheel or cam 62. The arm 6| is provided with a pin 63 toengage the periphery of the cam 62, whereby upfon rotation of the tablethe partition 59 is oscillated about the pivot 68. The purpose of thisstructure is to effect continuous agitation of the containers on thetable 50 in the vicinity of the discharge outlet in order to prevent thecontainers from becoming jammed or clogged in this vicinity. The cam 62is encircled by a cylindrical flange 6'4 to prevent the containers fromcoming in contact with the cam and to aid in guiding the containers tothe rearward portion of the table.

As previously stated, the table 58 revolves in a counterclockwisedirection Figure 1, whereby approximately seventy-five percent of the"area of the table is available for the accumulation of the containers,the remaining twentyfive percent, or the ninety degree sector betweenthe inlet and discharge openings of the guard rail 56, ispartitioned offby a guide member 65 which extends inwardly from the periphery of thetable adjacent the inlet opening. The inner end of the guide 65terminates sufficiently near the flange 64 to prevent containers frompassing to the left Figure 1, and the inner end of the guide 65 issecured to a bracket 66 extending inwardly from the guard rail, theremaining portion of the guide 65 being free to yield laterally. Thebracket 66 is provided with a switch 68 pivoted at 69,. This switch maybe of any suitable structure, as here shown being of the mercury typeincluding a tube I having terminals connected to the wires H which formthe feed circuit for the motor 3| which effects rotation of the membersl5, I6, 20, and drum 28. The arrangement is such that should there be anover-accumulation of containers on the table 50, the accumulatedcontainers will move the yielding guide 65 to the left Figure 1,effecting operation of the switchBB to the off position, and the machinewill cease operation. However, the table 50 is rotated continuously andthe accumulated containers will be eventually discharged through theoutlet 58 to the filling machine conveyor. cumulation of containers hasdecreased, the guide 65 will be permitted to spring to the right Figure1, and the switch 68'will close causing the machine to again operate.

It will be observed that it is only necessary for the operator to openone side of the'carton of containers and place the carton on the hopperso that the containers are discharged in the hopper andthe-drum28. Themachine then functions entirely automatically to successively arrangethe containers in upright position upon the table 50 and to dischargethe containers through the outlet 58.

What I claim is: V

1. A device for receiving tapered containers in a commingled mass andarranging the containers in upright position comprising a frame, ahollow drum journalled in the frame on a horizontal axis, a pair ofannular members journalled in the frame, said members being arrangedcoaxially with said drum in juxtaposition to one end thereof, a pair ofendless belts trained over said members and arranged in spaced apartrelationship With their confronting edges adapted to engage the largeends of the containers, and said belts being operable to convey saidcontainers in a predetermined position, said drum being 01 erable todischarge the containers to said belts, and means carried by the frameand cooperable with said belts to effect transfer of the containers inupright position to a container receiving support.

2. A machine for receiving tapered containers in a commingled mass andsuccessively arranging the containers in upright position comprising aframe, a pair of circular members journalled in the frame, a second pairof circular members journalled in the frame in spaced apart relation tosaid firs-t pair, the members of each pair being arranged in coaxialspaced apart relationship and corresponding members of each pair beingarranged in alinement, an endless belt trained over said correspondingmembers of eachpair, the confronting edges of said belts being spacedapart to permit the smaller ends of the containers to pass therebetweenand to engage the larger ends of the containers, a drum journalled inthe As soon as the ac-' 3 frame coaxial with said first pair ofcylindrical members and arranged to receive said containers anddischarge the same within said circular members for engagement by saidbelts, a container receiving member, a guide plate carried by the frameand arranged in juxtaposition to said belts adjacent said second pair ofcircular members and operable to effect transfer of said containers fromthe belts to said container receiving member, and means operable toeffect rotation of said circular members and said drum.

3. A machine for receiving tapered containers in a commingled mass andsuccessively arranging the containers in upright position comprising aframe, a pair of circular members journalled in the frame, a second pairof circular members journalled in the frame, the members of each pairbeing arranged coaxially in spaced apart relationship with the axis ofeach pair extending horizontally and in spaced apart relationship withcorresponding members of each pair being arranged in alinement, anendless belt trained over said corresponding members of each pair, theconfronting edges of said belts being spaced apart to permit the smallerends of the containers to pass therebetween and to engage the largerends of the containers, means carried by the frame in juxtaposition tosaid first pair of circular members for receiving the containers in thecomminged state and operable to discharge the containers within saidmembers for engagement by the lower run of said belts, a containerreceiving table journalled in the frame on a vertically extending axisand arranged adjacent the upper run of said belts, a guide plate carriedby the frame and arranged in juxtaposition to the upper run of saidbelts and operable to effect transfer of said containers from the beltsto said container receiving table, and means operable to effect rotationof said circular members, said drum, and the container receiving table.

4. A machine for receiving tapered containers,

in a commingled mass and successively arranging the containers inupright position comprising a frame, a pair of circular membersjournalled in the frame, a second pair of circular members journalled inthe frame in spaced apart relation to said first pair, the members ofeach pair being arranged in coaxial spaced apart relationship andcorresponding members of each pair being arranged in alinement, anendless belt trained over said corresponding members of each pair, theconfronting edges of said belts being spaced apart to permit the smallerends of the containers to pass therebetween and to engage the largerends of the containers, means carried by the frame in juxtaposition tosaid first pair of circular members for receiving the containers in thecommingled state and operable to discharge the containers within saidmembers for engagement by said belts, a container receiving tablejournalled in the frame on a vertically extending axis and arrangedadjacent the upperrun of said belts, a guide plate carried by the frameand arranged in juxtaposition to the upper run of said belts andoperable to effect transfer of the containers from between the belts tosaid container receiving table, a guard rail encircling said table andbeing formed with a container receiving opening adjacent said guideplate, and a container discharge opening arranged remote from saidcontainer receiving opening, aguide rail extending radially inwardlyfrom the periphery of said table adjacent said container receivingopening, a second guide rail extending from the center of the table tosaid container discharge opening, means operable upon rotation of thetable to oscillate the second guide rail, and means operable to effectrotation of saidcircular members and said table.

5. A machine for receiving tapered containers in a commingled mass andsuccessively arranging the containers in upright position comprising aframe, a pair of circular members journalled in the frame, a second pairof circular members journalled in the frame in spaced apart relation tosaid first pair, the members of each pair being arranged in coaxialspaced apart relationship and corresponding members of each pair beingarranged in alinement, an endless belt trained over said correspondingmembers of each pair, the confronting edges of said belts being spacedapart to permit the smaller ends of the containers to pass therebetweenand to engage the larger ends of the containers, means carried by theframe in juxtaposition to said first pair of circular members forreceiving the containers in the commingled state and operable todischarge the containers within said members for engagement by saidbelts, a container receiving table journalled in the frame on avertically extending axis and arranged adjacent the upper run of saidbelts, a guide plate carried by the frame and arranged in juxtapositionto the upper run of said belts and operable to effect transfer of thecontainers from between the belts to said container receiving table, aguard rail encircling said table and being formed with a containerreceiving opening adjacent said guide plate,.and a container dischargeopening arranged remote from said container receiving opening, a guiderail extending radially inwardly from the periphery of said tableadjacent said container receiving opening, a second guide rail extendingfrom the center of said table to said container discharge opening andbeing pivoted at its outer end, cam means arranged at the axis of thetable and operable upon rotation of the table to oscillate the inner endof said second guide rail, and means operable to effect rotation of saidcircular members and said table.

6. A machine for receiving tapered containers in a commingled mass andsuccessively arranging the containers in upright position comprising aframe, a pair of circular members journalled in the frame, a second pairof circular members journalled in the frame in spaced apart relation tosaid first pair, the members of each pair being arranged in coaxialspaced apart relationship and corresponding members of each pair beingarranged in alinement, an endless belt trained over said correspondingmembers of each pair, the confronting edges of said belts being spacedapart to permit the smaller ends of the containers to pass therebetweenand to engage the larger ends of the containers, means carried by theframe in juxtaposition tosaid first pair of circular members forreceiving the containers in the commingled state and operable todischarge the containers within said members for engagement by saidbelts, a container receiving table journalled in the frame on avertically extending axis and arranged adjacent the upper run of saidbelts, a guide plate carried by the frame and arranged in juxtapositionto the upper run of said belts and operable to effect transfer of thecontainers from between the belts to said container receiving table, aguard rail encircling said table and being formed with a containerreceiving opening adjacent said'guide plate, and

a container discharge opening arranged remote from said containerreceiving opening, a guide rail extending radially inwardly from theperiphery of said table adjacent said container receiving opening, asecond guide rail extending from the center of said table to saidcontainer discharge opening and being pivoted at its outer end, cammeans arranged at the axis of the table and operable upon rotation ofthe table to oscillate the inner end of said second guide rail, saidfirst guide rail being yieldable upon accumulation of containers uponsaid table, a motor operatively connected to said circular members toeffect rotation of the same, a normally closed switch connected in thecircuit of said motor and arranged in juxtaposition to said second guiderail and being actuated to off position upon yielding movement of saidsecond guide rail.

7. A machine for receiving tapered containers in a commingled mass andsuccessively arranging the containers in upright position comprising aframe, a pair of circular members journalled in the frame, a second pairof circular members journalled in the frame in spaced apart relation tosaid first pair, the members of each pair being arranged in coaxialspaced apart relationship and corresponding members of each pair beingarranged in alinement, an endless belt trained over said correspondingmembers of each pair, the confronting edges of said belts being spacedapart to permit the smaller ends of the containers to pass therebetweenand to engage the larger ends of the containers, means carried by theframe in juxtaposition to said first pair of circular members forreceiving the containers in the commingled state and operable todischarge the containers within said members for engagement by saidbelts, a container receiving table journalled in theframe on avertically extending axis and arranged adjacent the upper run of saidbelts, a guide plate carried by the frame and arranged in juxtapositionto the upper run of said belts and operable to effect transfer of thecontainers from between the belts to said container receiving table, aguard rail encircling said table and being formed with a containerreceiving opening adjacent said guide plate, and a container dischargeopening arranged remote from said container receiving opening, a guiderail extending radially inwardly from the periphery of said tableadjacent said container receiving opening, said guide rail beingyielda'ble upon the accumulation of containers upon said table, a motoroperatively connected to said circular members to effect rotation of thesame, a normally closed switch connected in the circuit of said motorand arranged in juxtaposition to said guide rail and being actuated tooff position upon yielding movement of said guide rail.

8. A machine for receiving tapered containers in a commingled mass andsuccessively arranging the containers in upright position comprising asuitable frame, a pair of annular members rotatably journalled in theframe, said annular members being arranged coaxially and in spaced apartrelationship to permit the containers to pass between the confrontingsides thereof, a pair of belts trained over said annular members andbeing arranged to travel in parallel spaced apart relationship to permitthe smaller ends of the containers to pass between the confronting edgesof said belts and the larger ends of the containers to be engaged bysaid confronting edges, a drum journalled in the frame in juxtapositionto one of said annular members and being arranged coaxially therewith,said drum being open at one end to receive the containers and being openat the opposite end adjacent said annular member to discharge thecontainers between said belts, means operable to effect rotation of saidannular members in one direction, and to effect rotation of said drum inthe opposite direction, and means cooperable with said belts uponmovement of the same to effect discharge of the containers therefrominupright position upon a container receiving member.

9. A machine for arranging tapered containers comprising a suitableframe, a pair of pulleys journalled in the frame in spaced apartrelation, a pair of endless belts trained over said pulleys, theconfronting edges of said belts being spaced apart to permit the smallerends of the containers to pass therebetween and to engage the largerends of the containers, and with the upper runs of said belts extendingin substantially horizontal direction, a drum journalled in the frame ona horizontal axis and being arranged to receive the containers in thecommingled state and operable to discharge the containers upon the lowerruns of said belts, a container receiving table journalled on the frameon a vertically extending axis with the periphery of the table arrangedadjacent the upper runs of said belts, a guide plate carried by theframe and arranged in juxtaposition to the upper runs of said beltsintermediate said table and one of said pulleys, and operable to effecttransfer of said containers from between the belts to said containerreceiving table, and means operable to effect rotation of said pulleys,said drum, and the container receiving table.

10. A machine for receiving tapered containers in a commingled mass andsuccessively arranging the containers in upright position comprising aframe, a plurality of pulleys journalled in the frame upon horizontallyextending axes, a pair of belts trained over said pulleys and operatingin parallel spaced apart relationship, the confronting edges of saidbelts being spaced apart to permit the smaller ends of the containers topass therebetween and to engage the larger ends of the containers, thelower runs of said belts extending upwardly in angular relation and theupper runs of said belts extending in substantially horizontal relation,a drum journalled in the frame upon a horizontally extending axis andarranged to receive the containers in the commingled mass, said drumbeing operable upon rotation to discharge the containers between thelower runs of said belts, a container receiving table journalled in thetop of the frame on a verticaly extending axis with the periphery of thetable arranged adjacent the upper runs of said belts, a guide platecarried by the frame and arranged in juxtaposition to the upper runs ofsaid belts adjacent one of said pulleys and being operable to transferthe containers from between the belts to said container receiving table,and means operable to effect rotation of said pulleys, said drum, andthe container receiving table.

11. A machine for receiving tapered containers in a commingled mass andsuccessively arranging the containers in upright position comprising aframe, a pair of annular members journalled in the frame coaxially inspaced apart relation, pulley means journalled in the frame on an axisextending parallel to the axis of said annular members and being formedwith axially spaced apart cylindrical surfaces, a pair of endless belts,each of said belts being trained about one of said annular members andone of said cylindrical pulley surfaces, said belts being arranged totravel in parallel spaced apart relation and being operable to engagethe large ends of the containers, the lower runs of said belts extendingupwardly in angular relation from the lower portion of said annularmembers to said pulley means, and the upper runs of said belts extendingsubstantially in a horizontal direction, a drum journalled in the framecoaxially with said annular members and being arranged to receivethecontainers in the commingled mass and being operable upon rotation todischarge said containers between the lower runs of the belts, acontainer receiving support on the frame in juxtaposition to the upperruns of said belts and cooperable therewith to effect discharge of saidcontainers in upright position on said container support, and meansoperable to effect rotation of said annular members and rotation of saiddrum in the opposite direction.

JOHN F. PRICE.

